Wool skin shearing method and apparatus



y 1936- B. c. NELSON 2,046,963

WOOL SKIN SHEARING METHOD AND APPARATUS 7 Original FiledNov. 10 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR w ygh wb ATTORNEYS Emmy 7, 19361. i w C NELSQN 2,6,963

WOOL SKIN SHEARING METHOD AND APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 10, 1933 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR Maw M MW ATTORNEYS wool. sum

PATENT OFFICE fi gii r is Bernard 0. Nelson, Milwaukee, Wis; assignor to Nelson, Tanning it Dyeing 00., Milwaukee, Will's corporation of Wisconsin Application November 10, 1933, Serial No. 697,368 Renewed March 12, 1936 20 Claims. (Cl. 149 19) My invention relates to improvements in wool skin shearing methods and apparatus, the term wool-skin being hereby defined as including the skins of sheep or goats and other skins having fur or hain to betrimme'd or sheared to a predetermined distance'iromithe-skin, leaving a nap or pile of the desired length V h The object of this invention i s.to remove the wool without destroying its value as vlong staple 19 wool, to preserve its spinning value whereby the.

a removed wool is salable at a much higher price than ii sheared by other methods.

Also to provide means for attaining precision in wool trimming operations and in so expediting such operations as to materially reduce the expense of production. f.

More particularly stated," it is my object to provide a method-in which the skin to be trimmed is supported at a predetermined distance from a cutter-operatingfalong a definite line extending from one sidemargin of "the col skin vto the other, and advancing the skin-eta substantially uniform speed while lifting or presenting the -individual hairs or filaments composing the wool in such a manner that each will be cut at substantia'lly thesame distance from the skin, leaving the skin-with a nap orpile of any desired length. A further. object is to provide means whereby wool skins may be sheared while in either a wet or dry condition, ithaving heretofore been impossible to shear or trim wet skinslwith commercial success.

Also to provide means whereby mechanical "power may be utilized for advancing the skin, I operating the cutter, and lifting the filaments,

with a view ofizxpedition and accuracy in operation and reduction of the cost of .operation to a minimum.

In the drawings:

v Figure 115 a vertical sectional view drawn to a plane through thecentral portion of the hide supporting table and roller.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the upper portion of the machine as seen from the end occupied by 5 the driving gears.

. Figure 3 is a, front elevation.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the brushing roller, showing its peripheral helical groove.

0 Like parts are designated by same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the practice of my improved method, I provide a support for the central portion of the hide 7 along a preferably straight line extending from one side to the "other and I then lift the hair or filaments composing the fur, and cut the same at a predetermined distance from the skin along a line parallel with said line of support, and at a predetermined distance therefrom while progressively advancing the skin across said support,

and continuing the cutting operation from thecentral portion to the advancing margin of the skin, which, for convenience in description, may be referred to as one of the end margins.

I then reverse the skin end for endand support 5 the trimmed portion along the line of original support with the untrimmed fur in a position to be advanced into contact with the cutters,

' whereupon the operation of presenting the filaments to the cutters and trimming them is re- 10 peatedwhile the skin is being progressively advanced until the other end portion of the hide is reached.

I thus trim one-half of the hide from near a transverse center line to one end margin, and 15 then trim the remaining portion from apoint or line in the trimmed portion near the original point of beginning to the other end margin, the reversal of the hide end for end permitting the hide to be advanced in the same direction during each of these trimming operations, although the trimming proceeds toward one end in the first portion of the operation and toward the other end in the second portion of the operation.

I preferably employ-a continuous belt knife or 5 cutter of a type well-known in the art of splitting skins, and support this cutter along the transversely extended trimming line in a substantially horizontal plane parallel to the line along which the skin is supported for presentation of the fur 0 to the cutter. a

The hair or filaments may be extended by a brushing operation, or they may be electrically or electromagnetically extended, or, if desired, air suction may be applied to extend them. 35

In any event, the extension of the filaments should occur immediately in front of the cutter, whereby the advancement of the hide or skin will bring them in contact withthe cutter immediately after their extension. 40

In this manner the trimming may be quickly and inexpensively accomplished with a high degree of precision. 1

My process may be conveniently carried out by aid of the mechanismdisclosecl in the drawings. In Figure 1 the hide A is illustrated as it appears after approximately one-half portion has been trimmed and the hide reversed preparatory to trimming the other portion. The untrimmed portion is in part supported upon a platform or table Hi. The central portion of the hide is supported by a roller I l which is preferably provided with a surface l2 of frictional material such as rubber, cemented or otherwise secured to the body of the roller.

A thin endless metal band or belt I3 is supported upon pulleys l4 and has a cutting margin in proximity to-the roller l I along its upper side, the lower side of the belt'being preferably presented to grinding whels l5 and I6, whereby the 0 cutting margin of the belt may be continuously sharpened. A trimmed portion of the pelt extends downwardly between the roller II and a pinch roller I1. Preferably the roller II will be positively driven at a rate calculated to advance the hide at the desired speed, and the pinch roller I! may, if desired, be an idle roller rotated by virtue of its frictional contact with the advancing hide. a

To facilitate placing the hide in position over the roller I I, said roller is keyed or otherwise fixed to a shaft 20 journalled in supporting arms 2I fulcrumed to shafts 22 which are journalled in the frame and provided with an actuating arm 24 connected by link 25 with a suitable foot actuated lever 26 pivoted to the frame at 21 and provided with a treadle 28.

When the pressure upon the treadle 28 is relieved the roller II swings downwardly by gravity away from the belt knife I3 and the pinch roller I1,- thereby allowing adjustment, removal, or replacement of the hide.

It is not essential that the roller I I be continuously driven while in the depressed position as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1. But the roller revolves at a slow speed and the hide can readily be manually held against movement with the roller while adjusting or reversing it. If the roller is continuously revolved instead of disconnecting the power, the friction of the roller surfacing I2 may be utilized to aid in drawing the hide into a' smooth surface contact with the roller, thus eliminating wrinkles and drawing the hide into continuous conformity to the roller as to all portions resting thereon.

After properly adjusting the hide upon the roller, pressure. may be applied to the foot treadle 28 to swing the roller upwardly into its proper relation with the cutting mechanism and the pinch roller I1, whereupon the roller II will operate as a feed roller to advance the hide and bring the untrimmed fur progressively into contact with the cutter.

In the construction illustrated, I employ a friction roller- 30 to brush the outer surface of the fur and extend the filaments upwardly and in the direction of the cutter. This roller 30 may be driven at a relatively high peripheral speed as compared with the peripheral speed of the roller II. The roller 30 may be conveniently termed a brushing roller, although formed of metal with a smooth peripheral surface, except for a helical groove 3I preferably provided therein as best shown in Figure 4. This groove has directional pitch calculated to enable the roller 30 to move the filaments in the direction of the cutter with a certain degree of swing in a direction opposite the directional travel of the cutter, whereby the trimming operation is facilitated.

The helical groove is not essential, and any means for extending or arranging the filaments for presentation to the cutter may be employed. It will be understood that the scope of my invention is not intended to be limited to any specific means for filament extension and presentation to the cutter.

Any suitable means may be provided for limiting or predetermining the position of the roller II during a trimming operation. In the drawings I have illustrated an adjustable stop comprising a screw 34, threaded in a bracket 35 with its upper end in a position for contact of the arm 24 therewith when the foot lever 26 is depressed. By adjusting the screw 34, the operative position of the roller II may be predetermined in accordance with the thickness of the skin and the desired distance from the skin at which the fur is to be trimmed.

In order that the cutting belt I3 may be properly held along a line parallel with 'the periphery of he roller II I provde a suitable guide. This guide may comprise a bar 36, extending transversely of the frame and provided with a suitable channel to receive the rear margin of that portion of the belt- I3 which performs the trimming operation. If the roller II is truly cylindrical this channel will extend along a straight line and the portion of the belt passing through the channel will have its cutting edge held accurately to a straight line parallel with the periphery of the roller. It is obvious that the parallel relation is the important factor since if the roller II were barrel shaped, the belt knife would, for ordinary purposes, be guided along a longitudinal line parallel with the bulging pe riphery of the roller, whereas straight line guides are provided in connection with a. cylindrical roller of uniform diameter as illustrated in the drawings.

In Figures 2 and 3 I have illustrated suitable driving mechanism whereby the working parts may be mechanically actuated with precision. Power is applied to the pulley 40 to drive the belt knife at high speed by means of the shaft, bevelled pinion 42, and bevelled gear 43 secured to the shaft 44 of the driving pulley I4. Power from shaft M is transmitted to the roller II by a means of a train of reduction gears such as the revolution will be considerably greater than that of the 'shaft 20 upon which the roller II is -mounted, and as above stated the peripheral speed of the roller 30 is considerably greater than that of the roller II.

It will be understood that an important feature of my improved method involves the starting of the trimming operation from a transverse line extending along the intermediate portion of the hide instead of starting the trimming operation at one margin of the hide. The mechanism illustrated is peculiarly adapted to aid in thus starting to trim the hide along a transverse intermediate line, i. e., at a distance from either end margin. By so doing, the advancement of the hide during a trimming operation is not only greatly facilitated as to accuracy and uniformity in rate of advancement, but adjustment of the hide into continuous conformity with the periphery of the roller II, preparatory to the commencement of a trimming operation is greatly facilitated, and the problem of properly trimming the fur along irregular margins by means of power driven trimming mechanisms is solved, since the hide can be held firmly to the roller by the pinch roller I1 and by manually pulling upon projecting margins advancing over the platform I0 and the adjacent portions of the roller II until the last portion of such margin has been presented to the cutter.

Iclaim:

1. The method of shearing wool from wool hearing skins, consisting in flexing a middle por- 75 from the line of flexion, trimming the fleece along said line, and progressively advancing the hide to relatively shift the line of flexion toward one margin while the trimming operation is in progress.

2. The method of shearing wool from wool bearing skins, consisting in flexing a middle portion of the hide along a transverse line with the fleece uncompressed and with its elements tensioned' for individual separation by flexion along other margin.

3. The method of shearing wool from wool bearing skins, which consists in flexing an intermediate portion of the skin along a transverse line to convexly curve its wool bearing surface along said line while allowing the individualized portions of the fleece to remain radially extended and free'from compression, trimming the convexly curving portion of the fleece, progressively advancing the hide while the trimmingoperation is ing, trimming, and hide advancing operation.

a. The method of shearing wool from wool bearing skins, consisting in supporting the central portion of the skin along a transversely extending zone of cylindrical curvature with the wool fibers extending radially with the fibers free from compression and ten'sioned for individual separation, trimming the radially extending fibers and progressively advancing and flexing the hide to relatively shift the zone of flexion from the central portion to one margin while continuing the trimming operation, and then reversing the hide and repeating the flexing, advancing, and trimming operation in the opposite direction from the central portion.

5. Apparatus for shearing wool bearing skins comprising the combination of a hide suporting roller having a hide. supporting platform at one side of the central portion of the roller, and a pinch roller on the other side, a mechanically driven transversely moving cutter associated with said hide supporting roller for cutting operation along a line parallel to the periphery of the'roller betweenthe portions of the hide on the platform and the portions engaged by the pinch roller.

6; Apparatus for shearing wool bearing skins,

, comprising the combination of a hide supporting rollerhaving, ahide supporting platform atone side ofthe central portion of the roller, and a pinch roller on the other side, a mechanically driven transversely moving cutter associated with said hide supporting roller for cutting operation along a line parallel to the periphery of the roller between the portions of the hide on the platform and the portions engaged by the pinch roller, and

power driven means for advancing the hide and progressively presenting the fur to the cutter from an intermediate portion to an advancing margin.

I cutter, and cooperative means for holding the hide movable out of and into the space between the platform and pinch roller to receive a hide in one position and present it for fleece cutting operations in another position, said roller in the last mentioned positionbeing adapted to allow a portion of the hide to rest upon the platform and another portion to be engaged between said supporting roller and the pinch roller,,and means for positively actuating one of the rollers to advance the hide during a fleece cutting operation. 8. Apparatus for shearing wool bearing skins, comprising'the combination of a mechanically driven cutter, means for supporting the cutter for operation along a straight line, a hide supporting platform, a cooperative hide supporting roller movable into and out of proximity to the platform and cutter with its axis parallel to said line of cutter operation, means for rotating the roller to advance the hide in the direction of the to the roller on the downwardly moving side.

9. Apparatus for shearing wool bearing skins, comprising the combination of a hide supporting x roller having 2. hide supporting platform at one side of the central axis of the roller, and a pinch roller on the other side, a mechanically driven transversely moving endless belt cutter associated with said rollers for cutting operations along a line parallel to the periphery of the roller be tween the portions of the hide on the platform and the portions enga ed by the pinch roller, means for adjusting the hide supporting roller into and. out of predetermined proximity to the cutter, means for .advancing the hide across the cutting line from a point intermediate of its front and 3 rear margins while the cutter is operating to trim the wool in the direction of the advancing margin, and means for extending the component parts of the wool outwardly from the hide in the vicinity of the cutter for presentation thereto.

10. Apparatus for shearing wool bearing skins,

comprising the combination of a hide supporting roller, a pinch roller atone side thereof, mechanical means for rotating oneof said rollers for hide feeding purposes, and a mechanically driven fur trimming cutter associated with said hide,

supporting roller for cutting operation upon that portion of the wool advancing in the direction 1:

comprising the combination of a hide supporting roller, a pinch roller at one side thereof mechanical means for rotating one of said rollers for hide feeding purposes, I and a mechanically driven transversely moving cutter associated with said hide supporting roller for cutting operation upon that portion of the wool advancing in the direc tion of the pinch roller and along a line parallel to the periphery of the roller, means for adjusting the feed roller into and out of predetermined proximity to the cutter and pinch roller to facilitate placing the hide thereon for initial trimming of an intermediate portion of the hide in the direction of one of its margins, and a mechanically 7 driven rotary brushfor presenting the wool to the cutter. l

12. Apparatus for shearing wool bearings skins,ij comprising the combination of .a hide support, mechanically driven cutter associated with sai support for cutting operation along a line parallel' to a portion of the support in proximity thereto, treadle operated means for moving the hide support into and out of predetermined proximity to the cutter, and means for holding the hide to the support along a downwardly curving path of hide advancement to progressively flex transversely of the cutting line from a point intermediate of its front and rear margins while the cutter is operating to trim the fur in the direction of the advancing margin. I

13. Apparatus for trimming wool from skins, comprising the combination of a hide supporting roller, a mechanically driven transversely moving cutter associated with said roller for cutting operation along a line parallel to the periphery of the roller, means for adjusting the supporting roller into and out of predetermined proximity to the cutter, means for advancing the hide from a point intermediate of its front and rear margins while the cutter is operating to trim the wool in the direction of the advancing margin, and means for extending the component parts of the wool outwardly from the skin for presentation to the cutter, said means comprising a mechanically driven rotary brush, having a generally cylindrical surface provided with a helical groove adapted to engage and direct hair in the direction of the cutter and in a direction opposite the line along which the cutter operates.

14. Apparatus for trimming wool from skins, comprising the combination of a swinging support, a hide supporting roller journaled in the swinging support, power driven means for me-- chanically rotating said roller,.a mechanically driven belt knife supported adjacent the upper face of the roller for continuous cutting operations along a line substantially parallel to the axis of the roller, and means for feeding a hide over the roller with the elements of the fleece uncompressed and freely extending radially when approaching said line of cutter operation, whereby the portions of the fleece trimmed away by said cutter may be conserved as long staple wool.

15. Apparatus for trimming wool from skins, comprising the combination with an endless beltlike cutter, of a hide supporting roller adapted to be acfiusted to carry a wool skin into and out of trimming relation to said cutter, said cutter being positioned for operation upon the portion of the fleece convexly' curved by said roller, in' a plane tangential to the arcuate curve of the fleece, means for mechanically holding the skin to the roller at one side of the cutter while it is being manually manipulated upon the roller at the other side of the cutter and means for actuating the roller to advance the skin in a feeding operation adapted to carry its wool progressively into contact with the cutter.

16. Apparatus for trimming wool from skins, comprising the combination with an endless beltlike cutter, of a hide supporting device adapted to be adjusted to carry a skin into and out of trimming relation to said cutter and treadle operated mechanism for, moving the hide supporting device to carry the hide into and out of trimming relation to the cutter, said supporting device being adaptedto permit a progressiveadvance of a hide thereupon, means for mechanically holding the skin to the supporting device at one side of the cutter while it is being manually manipulated upon the device at the other side of the cutter, and means for extending the wool outwardly from the supporting device and the skin across the cutting line preparatory to the cutting operation.

17. The combination with a wool trimming cutter, of a hide advancing carrier, adapted to intermediately flex, support. and present to the cutter a portion of the wool intermediate of the margins of the hide, manually controlled means for actuating the carrier into and out of hide receiving and fleece trimming positions in quick positive strokes, and means for actuating the carrier to progressively move the wool across the cutting line from said intermediate portion to the margin advancing in the direction of the cutter. the space immediately in front of the cutter being open and free for radial extension of the material to be cut, and means tending to extend the filaments outwardly from the skin and from each other as they approach the cutter.

18. Apparatus for shearing wool bearing skins, comprising the combination of a support over which a hide may be draped, a cutter movable transversely of the hide along said support at a predetermined operating distance, therefrom, said cutter being arranged to operate in space unobstructed by fleece compressing members, a set of swinging arms upon which said support is mounted, and manually controlled means for swinging said arms in quick positive'strokes into and out of operating relation to the cutter to facilitate the mounting of hides upon the support and their removal therefrom, said cutter being free for operation upon uncompressed portions of the fleece.

19. Apparatus for shearing wool from wool bearing skins, comprising the combination with a hide supporting table, of a hide supporting roller mounted upon a swinging support and movable into and out of association with one margin of the table, said roller in one position being adapted to support a portion of the hide while the latter is passing over said table, and a mechanically driven transversely moving cutter positioned for operation in a,.plane tangential to arcuately curving portions of the fleece passing over said roller, the space immediately in front of the cutter being free for radial extension of the individual filaments, whereby the severed portions may be utilized as long staple wool.

20. Apparatus for shearing wool bearing skins, comprising the combination of a hide support, a mechanically driven cutter associated with said support, means for actuating said cutter along a line transverse to a hide carried by said support, means for moving the hide across said support, and a mechanically driven roller having helical grooves, said roller being located above the support out of compressing relation to the hide and its fleece and in a position to operate with a. brushing action upon the fleece to lift and move it in the direction of the cutter, the space between said brushing roller and the cutter being free for radial extension to the elements of the fleece, whereby the severed portions may be utilized as long staple wool.

BERNARD C. NELSON. 

